The Minnesota Department of Agriculture received 143 applications and was able to award $31,583 to 41 farmers in the third year of offering the Produce Safety Mini-Grant. 

The mini-grant helps reimburse Minnesota produce farmers for expenses to improve on-farm food safety systems, up to $800 per farm. This includes purchasing items such as harvest totes, waxed boxes, or building handwashing and produce washing stands.

The Produce Safety Program has secured funding for 2025 to continue offering more produce farmers this opportunity. Details regarding the next round of funding will be made in early 2025. Like last year, the selection process will be conducted via a lottery.

The following grants related to produce and specialty crops are currently available from the MDA:

MDA Urban Agriculture Grant Program – Applications due January 30

MDA Urban Farm Conservation Mini-Grant – Applications due January 30

MDA Farmers’ Market Cost-Share Programs – For farmers’ markets, to support the implementation of food assistance programs. Applications accepted through January 31, or until funds run out. The application close date has been recently updated.

For more information: visit www.mda.state.mn.us

There were funds awarded to 43 of 143 applicants totaling $34,000 for the 2024 Produce Safety Mini-Grant:

• 10th St Farm & Market

• 21 Roots Farm

• A Very Good Farm

• Amy Rice

• Anna Barekebavuge

• B&H Pepper Partnership

• Big Lake Microgreens

• Boors Garden

• Brakstad Family Farm

• Brown Family Farm

• Bushel+Peck produce

• Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization

• Court Homestead Gardens

• Earthly Berry Farm

• Ed Fields and Sons, Inc.

• Fiddlehead Knob

• Forest Mushrooms, Inc

• Healing Garden

• Hope Organic

• Jared & Maggie Farm

• Kaleidoscope Market Garden

• Little Elbow Farm

• Mother Peace Forest Farm

• Nao Pao Xiong

• Oniwede Farm LLC

• Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Ctr

• Otter Berry Farm LLC

• Primo Farm

• Red River Garlic and Produce

• Red Wagon Farm, Inc.

• Roper Farms, Inc

• Rusty Patch Farm

• Seeds Farm LLC

• Southwind Orchards

• Stef’s Microgreens LLC

• Svihel Vegetable Farm Inc

• UMN Crookston

• Van Erkel Farms Inc

• Vine Valley Farms Inc.

• Way of the root farm

• WGH Holdings LLC

• Wright Farms

• Xeng Thao’s Farm